Topline
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday renaming “Lake Ontario” as “Lake America,” making good on a threat issued days earlier amid a deepening trade war with Canada.
President Donald Trump displays a signed executive order during an event in the Oval Office of the White House on August 27, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
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Key Facts
The order directs the secretary of the interior to update the Geographic Names Information System within 30 days to reflect the change.
It also instructs the change be made on all federal government references, including on executive department and agency maps, contracts and other documents.
Trump issued the threat to rename Lake Ontario earlier this week as Canada prepared to announce retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. for the 50% levies Trump imposed over the weekend on a range of Canadian goods.
This is a developing story and will be updated.